Isolde entered the room with a quiet grace, her head bowed in respect as she approached Sebastian. She couldn't help but notice Eliana sitting at the table with Lydia, feeling a pang of curiosity and confusion at why her master would still accept a human in his house.
"What is it, Isolde?" Sebastian's voice drew her attention back to him as he turned to face her.
But her eyes kept scanning Eliana, taking in every detail of her features and demeanor. "Isolde!" Sebastian's sharp tone snapped her out of her thoughts. "My apologies, my lord. My mind was elsewhere for a moment." She said, slightly irritated at herself for being so distracted.
"We have a small problem," Isolde continued, turning her full attention back to her task at hand. "Monsters are attacking the south borders of the kingdom, and the king has ordered us to take care of it."
Sebastian's expression grew more serious as he listened to her report. Isolde stood tall and confident, holding her hand firmly over her chest as if reporting to a commanding officer.
"Take your group and go eliminate those monsters," Sebastian commanded with a firm voice.
"Yes, sir," Isolde replied with a nod before turning on her heel and leaving the room.
Feeling a sense of duty and loyalty towards Sebastian, Eliana couldn't help but ask, "Is everything alright? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Her offer was genuine, wanting to give back even just a little bit of all the help and kindness she had received from Sebastian.
Eliana's question caught Sebastian off guard. He turned to look at her, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her features and demeanor. Her soft-spoken words held a quiet resilience that was hard to ignore. "Isolde can handle it," he replied finally, his long red hair swaying gently as he shook his head. "You should focus on enjoying your time here, not worrying about any of this."
His tone was firm, but there was an undertone of kindness in it too, a hint of understanding that she just wanted to help. Despite his outward indifference, he knew the burdens she carried with her, the scars she bore on the inside. He respected her for that, even if he couldn't allow her to get too close.
After finishing their breakfast, Sebastian and Eliana got up from the table and exited the room. Sebastian returned to his study to resume his daily tasks, while Eliana and Lydia proceeded to enjoy their day by moving towards the lavish living area.
The pair walked together, their footsteps light on the warm wooden floors of the grand manor hallway. The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and hot tea, which they had just finished enjoying in the dining room. Lydia led Eliana to a plush couch near a large fireplace, where they both sat down, feeling the soft cushions giving way beneath them.
"This is so comfortable," Eliana murmured, sinking into the cushions as she looked around at the high-ceilinged room with its painted walls and tapestries depicting scenes of battle, valor, and magic. She wondered if Sebastian's family had fought in those battles or if they were just mere artistic displays.
"It's quite the contrast from Willowbrook," Lydia added, her voice warm and inviting. "It feels like another world altogether."
Eliana nodded in agreement, her eyes wandering over to a nearby bookshelf laden with leather-bound tomes of history and lore. She could only imagine the stories they held within their pages, but knew better than to pry into sealed volumes without permission. Instead, she turned her attention back to Lydia, who was speaking about her life in Ravenwood before coming to the Blackwood estate.
"Oh, yes, it was quite different there," Lydia began, her hazel eyes gleaming with nostalgia. "I grew up in a humble wooden home, nestled amidst the trees of the Ravenwood forest. My mother was a herbalist and healer, and my father tended to the gardens and animals. Life was peaceful, but also lonely at times." She sighed softly, remembering days spent helping her mother mix potions and tinctures under the watchful eye of the ancient oak trees. "We had our own small garden where we grew herbs and vegetables, and I would spend hours watering them or picking ripe tomatoes for our supper." She smiled, her cheeks dimpling slightly as she recalled the taste of freshly-picked tomatoes smothered in butter and basil from their garden.
In Ravenwood, things were much busier and bustling. Lydia's days were filled with helping her parents at their small apothecary shop, listening to their customers' ailments and complaints while her mother prepared remedies. The smell of roasting meats from nearby inns mingled with the scent of spices carried by merchants passing by, creating a heady mix that filled the air. The sounds of horses' hooves against cobblestone and merchants haggling over prices echoed through the streets, adding to the lively atmosphere of the village.
"I used to love listening to the stories that traders from all over the realm would tell us about their journeys," Lydia continued, her voice taking on a faraway tone. "They brought news of distant lands and exotic creatures that I could only dream of seeing one day." She blushed faintly, remembering the day Sebastian had visited their shop, his deep voice and charming demeanor captivating her young heart. "He was like a prince from a fairy tale, standing tall and confident amidst the clamor of the marketplace."
Lydia laughed softly at herself, brushing a lock of chestnut hair behind her ear. "I know it sounds silly now, but back then, I was just a young girl with big dreams," she confessed. "Little did I know that fate would bring us together once more, under very different circumstances."
As they talked, Eliana could feel the warmth of the fireplace seeping into her bones, making her feel at ease in this strange new world. She listened intently to Lydia's stories.
Lydia's bright, welcoming smile lit up her face as she looked into Eliana's eyes. "But enough about me, how was your life before you came here?" she asked politely.
Eliana's voice was soft and kind as she responded, "No need to keep calling me 'my lady', just call me by my name." She took a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. "My life before this was, well...harsh. My mother passed away when I was very young, and then my father remarried. Unfortunately, my stepfamily took over the household, as my stepmother was the Duchess of Willowbrook."
She carefully chose her words, not wanting to scare Lydia with the full extent of her past. But the memories still lingered, leaving a bittersweet taste in her mouth.
Without warning, a butler suddenly enters the luxurious living room, halting Lydia's thoughts and causing her to jump in surprise. His polished shoes click against the marble floor as he strides towards them, his posture rigid and formal. "My lady Eliana," he announces with a deep bow of his head. "My lord has sent me to inform you that it is nearly time for you to prepare for the grand celebration in Willowbrook." His eyes flicker towards Lydia before returning back to Eliana. "Lydia, our lord also requests that you assist Lady Eliana in preparing for the festivities and ready her gown." With one final bow, the butler retreats from the room.
Eliana lets out a soft sigh, her voice barely audible over the rustle of silk drapes and the distant hum of servants. "The party is finally here," she murmurs, a hint of sadness lacing her words. For her, this event marks the end of her peaceful stay in this lavish household. Soon, she will have to return to her own home where her cruel stepfamily awaits, ready to subject her to torment and abuse once again.